The 30 Most Punctual Airlines Worldwide

Delta is the only U.S. airline to make a new ranking of the world’s most on-time airlines in 2016.

Flight data provider FlightStats recently announced its eighth annual On-time Performance Service Awards winners. The awards recognize airlines that deliver the highest percentage of flights to their arrival gates within 15 minutes of the scheduled arrival time.

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines ranked No. 1 out of all 40 major airlines analyzed for the latest awards. It had an on-time arrival rate of 88.53 percent last year.

Delta took the No. 8 spot on that list with 85.17 percent.

FlightStats’ rankings are based on flight status and arrival data culled from various global sources, including:

• Civil aviation authorities
• Airlines
• Airports
• Major airline reservation systems

The 10 highest-ranked major international airlines had on-time arrival rates that ranged from KLM’s 88.53 percent to Australia-based Qantas’ 84.3 percent. They are:

1. KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
2. Iberia
3. Japan Airlines
4. Qatar Airways
5. Austrian Airlines
6. All Nippon Airways
7. Singapore Airlines
8. Delta Air Lines
9. TAM Linhas Aereas
10. Qantas Airways

The 10 highest-ranked major North American airlines had on-time arrival rates ranging from Alaska Airlines’ 87 percent to Air Canada’s 76.3 percent. They are:

1. Alaska Airlines
2. Delta Air Lines
3. WestJet Airlines
4. Southwest Airlines
5. United Airlines
6. American Airlines
7. Frontier Airlines
8. Virgin America
9. JetBlue Airways
10. Air Canada

The top two low-cost airlines — Spain-based Iberia Express and Latvia-based AirBaltic — beat out even the best major carriers. Their on-time arrival rates were 89.64 percent and 88.68 percent, respectively.

The 10 highest-ranked low-cost airlines had on-time rates ranging from Iberia Express’ 89.64 percent to Frontier’s 77.44 percent. They are:

1. Iberia Express
2. airBaltic
3. Solaseed Air
4. Air Do
5. WestJet Airlines
6. Southwest Airlines
7. Norwegian Air Shuttle
8. Nok Air
9. NIKI
10. Frontier Airlines

A carrier that FlightStats classifies as a regional airline had the highest score. Hawaiian Airlines had an on-time arrival rate of 91.14 percent.

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